Director of Communications

Description

ABOUT PUBLIC COUNSEL

Public Counsel is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to advancing civil rights and racial and economic justice, as well as to amplifying the power of our clients through comprehensive legal advocacy. Founded on and strengthened by a pro bono legal service model, our staff and volunteers seek justice through direct legal services, promote healthy and resilient communities through education and outreach, and support community-led efforts to transform unjust systems through litigation and policy advocacy in and beyond Los Angeles.

Public Counsel organizes its work through seven legal teams: Child, Youth & Family Advocacy, Community Development, Consumer Rights & Economic Justice, Homelessness Prevention, Immigrants’ Rights, Education Equity, and our impact litigation team, Opportunity Under Law.  

Public Counsel has a staff of approximately 170. We are committed to building a diverse staff and encourage applications from people of color, people with disabilities, and people of all gender identities, gender expressions, and sexualities. We recognize the essential role of staff in achieving our goals, and we have set a long-term intention to provide competitive compensation, benefits, training, mentorship, and overall workplace wellness, making Public Counsel a leader among nonprofit law firms.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer, the Director of Communications sets and executes a comprehensive, organization-wide communications strategy that advances Public Counsel’s mission, elevates its profile, and deepens engagement with key audiences. The Director leads Public Counsel’s communications efforts and oversees internal and external communications, media relations, digital strategy, branding, storytelling, and organizational messaging. Working closely with senior leadership, program staff, and the Development team, the Director ensures that Public Counsel communicates with clarity, consistency, and impact across all platforms. The Director also plays a key leadership role in shaping how Public Counsel responds to high-profile legal, policy, and advocacy developments, including litigation and crisis communications. The Director manages the two-member Communications team and ensures consistent, high-quality communications practices across a large and collaborative organization. The Director will strengthen the organization’s ability to engage supporters, amplify client and community voices, and advance meaningful systemic change through strategic communications. 

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership & Team Management

• Develop and lead an integrated, organization-wide communications strategy aligned with Public Counsel’s strategic priorities, including by leading the implementation of the communication priority of our strategic plan 
• Supervise, mentor, and support the Communications team, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team culture focused on excellence 
• Establish clear goals, workflows, and performance metrics for the team, ensuring accountability and continuous improvement 
• Oversee the editorial calendar and ensure coordination across teams and platforms 
• Lead crisis communications planning and response, both internally and externally 
• Ensure organization-wide compliance with communications, branding, editorial, and messaging standards, and maintain consistent, high-quality communications across all platforms and teams, including by creating and implementing an organization-wide style guide for written communications  

External Communications, Media & Organizational Positioning

• Drive strategies to elevate Public Counsel’s visibility and influence locally, statewide, and nationally, including by overseeing awards, recognitions, and external opportunities that highlight organizational impact
• Oversee our media relations strategy, including press outreach, messaging, and journalist engagement 
• Oversee our communications strategy and messaging for major litigation, policy advocacy, and organizational initiatives including special events
• Create and implement a visibility plan for the President & CEO and senior leadership to expand thought leadership and external presence, including through speaking engagements and media opportunities 
• Manage relationships with external communications vendors, including media relations firms 

Digital Strategy, Brand & Content Oversight

• Oversee creation and implementation of a digital communications plan that includes clear objectives, content strategy, and voice across website, email, and social media platforms
• Ensure content integration across channels to maximize reach, engagement, and impact 
• Serve as the steward of Public Counsel’s brand, including voice, messaging, and visual identity, by training staff, reviewing materials for consistency and quality, and ensuring compliance with branding and tone across the organization
• Oversee the development of high-quality content and communications materials, including videos, newsletters, and e-blasts that meet branding, accessibility, and organizational standards  

Programmatic Visibility, Development & Engagement

• Ensure consistent visibility of program teams, litigation, and advocacy efforts across communications channels 
• Develop and oversee systems to identify, amplify, and track our client, staff, and pro bono stories, and share regular media round-ups with Public Counsel’s staff and board members
• Partner closely with the Development team to align communications with fundraising and donor engagement strategies 
• Oversee creation and distribution of major organizational materials, including the annual report and key fundraising campaigns 
• Lead strategies to grow and engage Public Counsel’s supporter base, evaluate and report on the effectiveness of engagement strategies, and adjust tactics as needed 
• Promote strong internal communications practices and support staff capacity for storytelling and media engagement through effective onboarding and training

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Bachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree in communications, journalism, public relations, public policy, or a related field preferred 
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in communications, media relations, public affairs, journalism, or a related field, including substantial leadership and supervisory experience, with experience in a nonprofit, legal services, advocacy, or mission-driven organization preferred 
• Demonstrated ability to develop and lead a comprehensive, organization-wide communications strategy that advances organizational priorities, public engagement, and mission impact
• Strong leadership and management skills, including experience supervising and developing staff, fostering accountability, addressing concerns directly and constructively, and building an inclusive and high-performing team culture 
• Inspiring, decisive, collaborative, transparent, and flexible leadership style 
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop clear, compelling, and values-aligned messaging for diverse audiences and platforms 
• Significant experience in media relations, public affairs, and external communications strategy, including cultivating media relationships and managing high-profile or sensitive communications matters 
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic communications counsel to senior leadership and to exercise sound judgment in fast-moving, high-profile, or sensitive situations, including crisis communications 
• Excellent judgment and discretion as well as excellent interpersonal skills that gain and sustain respect internally and with external partners 
• Strong understanding of digital communications strategy, including website management, email communications, social media, analytics, audience engagement, and multi-platform content development 
• Experience overseeing brand stewardship and ensuring consistency in organizational voice, messaging, visual identity, editorial standards, and communications quality across teams and platforms, with strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate, polished, and high-quality work product
• Demonstrated ability to establish, implement, and enforce organizational communications standards, including branding, editorial, messaging, accessibility, and style guidelines 
• Ability to work cooperatively across teams, levels, and functions within the organization and to navigate difficult conversations and address conflict effectively 
• Demonstrated commitment to racial and economic justice, and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace and in the communities Public Counsel serves 
• High levels of emotional intelligence and cultural competency, including being curious, self-aware, cognizant of bias, compassionate, patient, and willing to listen, and having a growth mindset and openness to new perspectives  

JOB TYPE AND BENEFITS

• Full-time/exempt
• Salary range is $140,000–$175,000, with most candidates expected to fall within the middle of the range, depending on experience
• Non-bargaining 

Public Counsel offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Medical coverage with an option for 100% employer-paid employee and dependent child(ren)’s premiums; buy-up options are available for other HMO and PPO coverage 
• Dental and vision coverage 
• Option to enroll in a Flexible Spending Account
• Employer-paid life insurance and disability plans

Generous paid time off (per year):

• 15 accrued vacation days that increase to 20 days after 3 years of employment
• 12 accrued sick days that may be used for physical and mental health needs
• 2 personal observance days 
• 11 paid holidays plus 2 one-week office closures (during the summer and winter)
• Up to 60 hours of compensatory time per calendar year (for exempt staff only)

Additional benefits:

• 403(b) retirement plan with an elective employee contribution, and after a year of employment a discretionary employer contribution 
• Free on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement 
• $45 per pay period for employees who use non-English language skills to perform work duties
• Up to 6 months of parental leave 
• Organizational and team wellness activities to build team cohesion and camaraderie
• Professional development support and opportunities
• Annual payment of dues for required licenses or certifications (state bar dues for attorneys) and for a mutually agreed-upon professional organization 
• Centrally located headquarters in the heart of Koreatown, a vibrant neighborhood with easy access to public transportation, diverse dining options, and cultural attractions 

HOW TO APPLY

We value lived experiences and experiences working with clients across a range of settings. Please discuss such experiences in your cover letter, especially if they are not reflected in your resume. We strongly encourage interested candidates to apply no later than August 5, 2026. We plan to start interviewing candidates during the week of August 17, 2026. Please submit the following materials:

1. Your cover letter

2. Your resume

3. Two to four representative communications samples that you authored or substantially edited. Examples include:

• Press releases 
• Op-eds
• Strategic messaging memos 
• Fundraising communications 
• Crisis communications 
• Digital campaign content

4. Three references, including at least:

• One person you supervised
• One person who supervised you

If you are unable to submit any one of these materials through our portal linked below, please email it to Erica Garcia at [email protected] with the subject line: DOC Application Supplement.

PUBLIC COUNSEL VACCINATION POLICY AND COVID-19 PROTOCOLS

Public Counsel requires vaccination against COVID-19 for all employees, including new hires. Pursuant to federal and state laws, Public Counsel will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities or sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship.

Public Counsel is generally office-based, but remote work was launched during the pandemic. All employees with Public Counsel are now required to work in the office at least one day per week, at the discretion of the head of department. Some positions require additional in-office days. This policy is subject to redesign by leadership. Public Counsel will work in a manner consistent with public health and local and state emergency orders 

PUBLIC COUNSEL EEO POLICY

Public Counsel is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate against employees or prospective employees on the basis of union membership or activity, race, religious creed, religious observance, ethnicity, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information or predisposition, military service, military and veteran status, pregnancy, child birth and related medical conditions, marital and family status, national origin, ancestry, age, medical conditions as defined by state or federal law, or disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

All qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.

Our leadership team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities discipline, discharge and general treatment during employment.